Japan Press Weekly

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2025 May 28 - June 3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP calls for increase in use of regional airports, rather than relying solely on Haneda Airport

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira, at a House of Councilors Construction and Transport Committee meeting on May 29, demanded that the flight routes to and from Haneda Airport which allow flights at low altitudes over Tokyo’s urban areas be abolished and that the “enter by sea, exit by sea” principle be returned.

Currently, any flights entering Haneda Airport on either the A or C runway approaches fly over densely populated urban areas.

Koike asked about Tokyo’s share of inbound visitors to Japan in terms of the number of overnight visitors and the amount of travel spending. A Japan Tourism Agency senior official answered that Tokyo accounted for 35% of overnight stayers and 39.8% of travel spending in 2024.

The JCP secretariat head suggested that a significant increase in international and domestic flights to and from Haneda Airport be resolved and that instead regional airports be utilized more in order to prevent overtourism in urban areas and to promote regional economic revitalization.

He stressed the need to strengthen the airport’s safety-first functions to alleviate air congestion and ensure sufficient time for safe airline flight operations. He again demanded a return to the “enter by sea, exit by sea” principle.

Past related article:
> Tokyo JCP protests against Transport Minister’s decision on new Haneda flight routes [August 9, 2019]